Tin cans for drinks, canned fruit or other preserves, metal cans for jewelry and medicines, crown corks, beer kegs – consumers encounter metal packaging constantly and almost everywhere. Metal, tin, and aluminum packaging is gaining more and more points in terms of sustainability, a trend that is increasingly determining the metal packaging market according to the results of a new study by Eviosys. The provider of metal and sheet metal packaging has been examining this market for four years in annual studies; in 2024, the results are based on a Europe-wide survey of 2,000 consumers and 600 companies from the manufacturing, distribution, and consumer goods industries.
According to 90 percent of the companies surveyed, the trend towards greater sustainability is being driven by consumers. For example, 63 percent of consumers rated metal products as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic goods. For 59 percent, the large amount of plastic waste in supermarkets is a nuisance. The unlimited recyclability of metal prompted 82 percent to buy metal packaging, compared to 77 percent in 2022. “There are only two durable materials that can be recycled an infinite number of times, glass and metal, all other packaging materials end up in residual waste at some point,” explains Laetitia Durafour, Marketing Director at Eviosys.
Willingness to Produce Sustainable Products
According to Eviosys, the growing importance of sustainability and the advantages of metal packaging over other materials is also being increasingly recognized and implemented by suppliers. 98 percent have recognized the importance of ecological benefits and unlimited recycling. According to the survey participants, there needs to be discussions and an exchange with end customers; both sides are responsible for achieving the goals. The number of producers who want to become more involved in research and development amounts to 90 percent. However, only three percent have made major investments so far. According to Durafour, Eviosys is pursuing the following strategy: “Our research and development activities are focused on two challenges: economic efficiency and environmental responsibility. We work with our customers to develop products that best meet their needs and those of their consumers.” Her aim is to show them how they can best make the transition to sustainable products.
External Factors Hinder Development and Production
However, companies are also repeatedly faced with barriers that hinder them in implementing the trend. For 33 percent of respondents, high financial requirements came first, while 19 percent cited consumer interest and supply chain problems respectively. Other problems included the availability of materials (14 percent) as well as government and formal requirements (12 percent). However, these factors and difficulties did not significantly dampen companies' expectations and forecasts. The rate of respondents who are convinced that they will be able to use 100 percent recyclable packaging in the next three years came to 45 percent. 90 percent expected that they would be able to achieve this goal in the next ten years.
FACHPACK 2024 will once again feature numerous exhibitors from the "Metal packaging materials and packaging" sector.
